Data printout system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a data printout system comprising a plurality of flashtubes selectively and individually enablable by a computer. The output of the flashtubes is focused on a sheet of photosensitive material. The configuration of the flashtubes is such that one or two digit numbers can be printed on the photosensitive material upon proper energization of the tubes. A scanning device selectively directs the output of the cluster of flashtubes toward different areas of the photosensitive material so that a plurality of outputs can be recorded on a single sheet of material.

O United States Patent 1191 1111 3,878,544 Bowker Apr. 15, 1975 [54] DATA PRINTOUT SYSTEM 3,330,191 7/1967 King 95/4.5 I 3,401,399 9/1968 Tegholm 95/4.5 [75] lnvemor- Bmvker, Mdrblehedd, 3,611,891 10/1971 McNaney 95/45 Mass- 3,740,743 6/1973 Baron l78/30 [73] Assignee: Itek Corporation, Lexington, Mass.

Primary Examiner.l0hn M. Horan [22] Fledi May 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmHomer 0. Blair; Robert L. 21 APPL 35 39 Nathans; Gerald H. Glanzman Related U.S. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [62] Division of Ser. No. 181,141, Sept. 3, 1971, Pat. No. 3,778,541. Disclosed 1s a data printout system comprising a plurality of flashtubes selectively and individually enabla- [52] CL H 354/12 ble by a computer. The output of the flashtubes is fo- [51] Int. Cl 15/18 Cused on a Sheet of photosensitive material The f S a figuration Of the flashtubes 18 such that one or two 340/336 digit numbers can be printed on the photosensitive material upon proper energization of the tubes. A 56 R f d scanning device selectively directs the output of the 1 UNITE]; g z IIJZTENTS cluster of flashtubes toward different areas of the photosensitive material so that a plurality of outputs can 3,174,144 3/1965 ONelll 340/336 X b d d on a i l Sheet f material. 3,177,483 4/1965 Scharf 340/336 X 3,224,349 12/1965 Schumann 95/4.5 4 Claims, 5 Drawlng Figures COMPUTER PATENTEBAPR I 51975 3. 878.544

SMU 2 BF 3 2/1 6214 OSCILLATOR MTENTEDAPR 1 51975 Sam 3 g f;

mmtisoo AII/ DATA PRINTOUT SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of my co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 181,141, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,541 filed Sept. 3, 1971 and entitled System for Analyzing Multi-colored Scenes."

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to data printout systems and. more particularly, to a system for printing computer output data on a sheet of photosensitive material.

An object of this invention is to provide a data printout system for high speed recording of the output of a digital computer. It is a further object to provide a data printout system that permits simultaneous recording of auxiliary data from a separate source.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is characterized by a data printout system comprising an information input system for providing a computer data control signal to a radiant energy source. A plurality of flashtubes in the radiant energy source are independently and selectively energizable by the control signal. An optical relay system conveys the output of the flashtubes to photosensitive material retained in a printout mechanism. Preferably, the flashtubes are juxtaposed to provide character stroke matrices and thus upon each energization a number or a letter is recorded on the photosensitive material. Auxiliary information can be recorded on the photosensitive material if auxiliary optical signals are focused thereon by the optical relay system. Consequently, a printout system is provided that can record the output of a digital computer rapidly and accurately either individually or in combination with other signals.

The optical relay system includes a scanner with a stepping motor to incrementally move the photosensitive material and a reciprocating rotatably mounted mirror for directing the optical output of the flashtubes toward different areas of the photosensitive material. The position of the reciprocating mirror at any given time is controlled by the computer as is the stepping motor. The reciprocating mirror causes one dimensional scanning of the photosensitive material and a second dimension of scanning motion is provided by the stepping motor. Consequently, a printout system is provided that rapidly prints the output of a computer over the entire surface of a sheet photosensitive material or only on selected portions thereof.

For an example of a system utilizing the subject printout mechanism for printing computer data signals and simultaneously printing other optical signals, attention is directed to my above cited co-pending U.S. applicatron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon a perusal of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred data printout system;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a scanner mirror system utilized in the system depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the flashtube apparatus;

FIG. 4is a view of a flashtube support utilized in the apparatus depicted in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 shows a mask utilized in the flashtube apparatus depicted in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a diagram of a printout system 23. A wide roll of photosensitive material (not shown) is placed in an output paper transport 58 and advanced incrementally by an output stepping motor 59. The output motor 59 is responsive to signals delivered by a line 62' from a computer 63. Emerging from a radient energy source 99 (to be described below) is an output 102. The output beam 102 is reflected by a pair of objective mirrors 103 and 104 and then focused by a lens 105. A beam 106 emerges from the lens 105 and is reflected from an output side 107 of a synchronizing mirror 65 forming an output beam 106'. The mirror 65 rotatably reciprocates (as described below) so that output beam 106' scans one dimensionally. The photosensitive material in the output scanner 58 is incrementally moved by the stepping motor 59 to provide two dimensional scanning with sequential right to left and left to right scans coupled with an incremental vertical motion of the photosensitive material between each scan.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of a scan position control 64. The mirror 65 is mounted on a shaft 66 that is supported by a frame 212. Two loudspeakers 213 are also mounted on the frame 212. A line 214 connects the speakers 213 to a scan oscillator 211 (which is in the computer 63). Mounted on the shaft 66 and perpendicular thereto is a lever arm 215 with push rods 216 connected to each end thereof. The push rods 216 are also connected to small discs 217 that are secured to the insides of the cones 218 of the speakers 213. The speakers 213 are operated in phase so that the push rods 216 alternately push and pull the ends of the lever arm 215 and thereby rotatably reciprocate the shaft 66. The mirror 65 therefore rotatably reciprocates and the magnitude and frequency of the motion thereof is controlled by the scan oscillator 211.

Referring next to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 there is shown in detail the radiant energy source 99 that is connected to an interlace circuit within the computer 63 by the line 125. The interlace circuit modulates, or energizes, the radiant energy source 99 for printing at the appropriate times during a scanning'cycle. In the rear of the radiant energy source 99 is a support 304 that holds 16 flashtubes 305-320 in place and is shown in detail in FIG. 4. At the front of the radiant energy source 99 is an aperture mask 321 that supports a plurality of lenses 322 in 16 apertures 305a-320a, each aperture corresponding with one flashtube 305-320. The flashtubes 305-320 are operated selectively by the computer 63 and produce an output in the form of a character stroke matrix. Activation of the proper combination of flashtubes 307-320 will project a beam 102 in the form of any number from 00 thru 99. For example, the number 88 is formed by activation of all the flashtubes 307-320, and 11 is formed by the activation of only the flashtubes 308, 311, 315 and 316. The flashtubes 305 and 306, when activated, form reference marks that can be used as desired.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A data printout system comprising:

a radiant energy source means comprising a plurality of flashtubes;

b. a plurality of stroke defining projection lens means for receiving radiant energy from said plurality of flashtubes, said plurality of stroke defining projection lens means being arranged to define a character stroke matrix with each of the stroke defining projection lens means defining a different stroke of said character stroke matrix;

c. information input means for providing a computer data control signal to energize selected ones of said plurality of flashtubes, the radiant energy therefrom being projected by corresponding ones of said plurality of stroke defining projection lens means 4 for forming a desired alphanumeric character;

d. a printout mechanism comprising a photosensitive material; and

e. optical relay means including focusing lens means for receiving the alphanumeric character image beams projected by said stroke defining projection lens means and for relaying said desired character to a predetermined location on said photosensitive material.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said scanning means comprises stepping motor means for stepping said photosensitive material.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said scanning means comprises a reciprocating rotatably mounted mirror.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said optical relay means further comprises scanning means for directing said desired alphanumeric character to a predetermined location on said photosensitive material. 

1. A data printout system compriSing: a radiant energy source means comprising a plurality of flashtubes; b. a plurality of stroke defining projection lens means for receiving radiant energy from said plurality of flashtubes, said plurality of stroke defining projection lens means being arranged to define a character stroke matrix with each of the stroke defining projection lens means defining a different stroke of said character stroke matrix; c. information input means for providing a computer data control signal to energize selected ones of said plurality of flashtubes, the radiant energy therefrom being projected by corresponding ones of said plurality of stroke defining projection lens means for forming a desired alphanumeric character; d. a printout mechanism comprising a photosensitive material; and e. optical relay means including focusing lens means for receiving the alphanumeric character image beams projected by said stroke defining projection lens means and for relaying said desired character to a predetermined location on said photosensitive material.
 2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said scanning means comprises stepping motor means for stepping said photosensitive material.
 3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said scanning means comprises a reciprocating rotatably mounted mirror.
 4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said optical relay means further comprises scanning means for directing said desired alphanumeric character to a predetermined location on said photosensitive material. 